composition, diversity and food ... - macrothink institute

Journal of Environment and Ecology

ISSN 2157-6092

2012, Vol. 3, No. 1

www.macrothink.org/jee 1

Composition, Diversity and Food Habits of the Fish

Community of a Coastal Wetland in Ghana

Isaac Okyere (Corresponding Author)

E-mail: [email protected]

John Blay


Joseph Aggrey-Fynn


Denis Worlanyo Aheto


Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences

University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

Received: May 30, 2011 Accepted: June 8, 2011 Published: December 24, 2011

doi:10.5296/jee.v3i1.892 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/jee.v3i1.892

Abstract

This study aims at stimulating the scientific community towards a better understanding of

fish community ecology in relation to physico-chemical determinants in unmanaged

coastal wetlands relevant for informed decision-making on ecosystem functioning and

management in the tropical context. We investigated the diversity, size distribution and

food habits of the fish community and the abiotic environmental conditions of the Kakum

Estuary wetland in Ghana (5o 6

' N; 1

o 18

'W) from July 2009 to February 2010. Eighteen

species belonging to 18 genera and 12 families of marine, brackishwater and freshwater

fishes were sampled. The poecilid Aplocheilichthys spilauchen (43.31%), the cichlid


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Sarotherodon melanotheron (18.12%) and the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium

macrobrachion (12.37%) were dominant. Fish communities in pools in the wetland were

quite close in diversity (H' ranged from 2.2 to 2.7) and highly similar (Cs > 0.6) possibly as

a result of the prevailing similar environmental conditions. Smaller individuals of the

cichlids Tilapia zillii, Hemichromis fasciatus and S. melanotheron measuring 2.0-3.9 cm

TL, and marine species such as Elops lacerta and Liza falcipinnis measuring 6.0-7.9 cm

TL constituted between 60% and 80% of the populations, suggesting the wetland as

nursery and feeding grounds for the fishes. Examination of stomach contents showed that

the communities included detritivorous, planktivorous, insectivorous, omnivorous and

piscivorous species. It is strongly recommended to restrict fishing in the wetland during

the wet season to avoid exploitation of juvenile fishes which use the wetland as nursery

and feeding grounds during that period.

Keywords: Coastal wetlands, Fish biodiversity, Community ecology, Trophic relations,

Wetland management


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1. Introduction

The need for a better understanding of the role of biodiversity in the functioning of aquatic

ecosystems has been raised by several authors (Little et al., 1988; Ryan & Ntiamoa-Baidu,

2000; Scherer-Lorenzen, 2005; Duarte et al., 2006). Humbert and Dorigo (2005) have

indicated that ecosystem functioning depends on several factors including biodiversity and

a multiplicity of interactions between the physical, chemical and biological determinants.

According to Lévêque (1995), several studies attribute ecosystem function largely to

processes such as storage and transfer of matter and energy at different temporal and

spatial scales. Scherer-Lorenzen (2005) also argues that the function of an ecosystem is

highly dependent on the functional traits of the organisms involved as well as the abiotic

environment. In agreement with Scherer-Lorenzen (2005), Humbert and Dorigo (2005)

pointed out that knowledge of the functional traits of biodiversity and ecological

interaction between the biotic and abiotic environments is crucial for informed

management decisions. This study reports on the composition, diversity, size distribution

and food habits of the fish community in the Kakum Estuary wetland in Ghana. The data

could be used to support efforts that aim at improving fish and ecosystem productivity in

unmanaged coastal wetlands in West Africa.

The present study is important for several compelling reasons. Coastal wetlands are among

the most biologically productive but least understood ecosystems in the world (Ryan &

Ntiamoa-Baidu, 2000). In Ghana, they are reported to be the most diverse aquatic habitats

(Gordon et al., 1998). Ghana’s 550 km coastline contains over 100 lagoons and estuaries

and their associated floodplains (Yankson & Obodai, 1999) of which only five (Muni-

Pomadze, Sakumo, Songor, and Keta Lagoons, and Densu delta) with surface area ranging

from 1 364 ha to 101 022 ha are presently managed as Ramsar sites (Willoughby et al.,

2001; Quashie & Oppong, 2006). This study is of significance because the smaller coastal

wetlands which are greater in number have been neglected in terms of management and

regulatory interventions. This is partly due to a lack of adequate knowledge on the ecology

of these wetlands that could advance the understanding of their contributory functions

(Attuquayefio & Gbogbo, 2001; Gbogbo, 2007). For countries in West Africa that are

signatory to the Ramsar Convention, this study provides an important insight of fish

assemblages and diversity of fish biota, and will thus encourage studies to cover a greater

number of such wetlands in the sub-Region.

As indicated by Scherer-Lorenzen (2005), the functional status of aquatic ecosystems is

largely determined by the functional traits of the biodiversity together with the abiotic

environment. Hence, assessing the biodiversity and interactions between the biotic

communities and the abiotic factors of wetlands would give a broader understanding of the

functions and ecological value of these ecosystems since biodiversity of wetland

ecosystems is closely tied to the abiotic conditions (Quinn, 1980; Little et al., 1988).

This paper therefore aims at investigating the ecological value of an unmanaged coastal

wetland in Ghana based on some environmental conditions, diversity of fish species and

food habits of the fish community in order to provide baseline information for

management and conservation planning of the wetland. The specific objectives of the


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study are to broaden the knowledge on the fish community structure and ecological

importance of the Kakum Estuary wetland in Ghana by investigating (a) some physico-

chemical parameters (b) the species composition and diversity of the fish community, and

(c) the feeding ecology of the fishes.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1 Study area

The Kakum Estuary wetland is a salt marsh located about 2 km west of Cape Coast in the

Central Region of Ghana (approximately 5o 6ɪ

N; 1

o 18ɪ

W). It is associated with the

Kakum River Estuary which lies to the west of the wetland. The dominant flora includes

the saltwater couch Paspalum vaginatum (Poaceae), the sedge-grass Cyperus articulatus

(Cyperaceae) and the bulrush Typha australis (Typhaceae). The thatch grass Imperata

cylindrica (Poaceae) and coconut trees Cocos nucifera (Palmae) fringe the stretch of sandy

beach separating the wetland from the Atlantic Ocean while the western portion is

bordered by mangroves. In the wet season (May to August), flood waters from the Kakum

River inundate the wetland and fish become abundant. The area is characterized by

isolated pools during the period of dry season (October to March).

2.2 Sampling of physico-chemical parameters and fish species

The study was conducted from July 2009 to February 2010, covering parts of the wet and

dry seasons. Five relatively large pools in the wetland were selected for the study. These

pools were selected to ensure that sampling extended well into the dry season as the

smaller pools tended to dry up rapidly sooner with the onset of the dry season.The area (A)

of a near square or rectangular pool was estimated as the product of the length and width,

and the area of approximately circular pools was calculated as �� , where r is the radius

of the pool. The maximum depth of each pool was also determined monthly at the deepest

part using a meter rule.

Fish sampling and measurement of hydrographic parameters were undertaken between the

20th

and 22nd

day of each month. Temperature, salinity and conductivity were measured

with a YSI Incorporated (Model 63) meter. Turbidity was measured with a turbidimeter

(TOA Model TB-1A) and pH with a portable pH meter (Corning Incorporated Model 220).

Dissolved oxygen (DO) content of pools was also determined by the modified Winkler’s

titrametric method using a HACH test kit (Model FF2). Three measurements of each

parameter were taken at different points in each pool on each sampling date.

A pole-seine net (7 m long and 1.5 m deep) with stretched mesh size of 5 mm was used to

sample the fish. The fishes were preserved in 10% formalin immediately after capture to

arrest post mortem digestion of stomach contents and transported to the laboratory for

further examination. The fish were identified to their families and species level using

manuals and keys on finfishes and shellfishes from Ghana and other parts of West Africa

(Rutherford, 1971; Schneider, 1990; Dankwa et al., 1999; Paugy et al., 2003), and the

number of individuals belonging to each species from the pools was recorded.


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2.3 Analysis of fish data

The total length (TL) of finfish; , carapace width (CW) of crabs and body length (BL) of

shrimp specimens were measured to the nearest 0.1cm and the body weight (BW) of the

finfishes and shellfishes were determined to the nearest 0.01g. Finfish were dissected and

the content of the stomach examined using a dissecting microscope where necessary.

Diversity of the fish communities was ascertained by the Shannon-Wiener index (H′)

given as H′ = �∑ �� 1 , where s is the number of species in the community and Pi

is the proportion of individuals belonging to species i in the community (Krebs, 1999).

The evenness or equitability component of diversity was calculated from Pielou’s index

(Pielou, 1966) given as J′ = H′/Hmax where Hmax= ln s. The degree of similarity between

the fish communities in the different pools was determined as Cs = ��

�� (Krebs, 1999),

where Cs is Sorensen’s index, j is the number of species common to a given pair of pools,

and a and b are the number of species occurring in either of the two pools. Stomach

contents were analyzed using the frequency of occurrence method and the “points”

method (Hyslop, 1980; Lima-Junior & Goitein, 2001) based on a four point scale: 10

points for full stomach, 7.5 for three-quarters, 5 for half and 2.5 for quarter filled stomach.

The percentage composition of each of the food items was estimated.

3. Results

3.1 Wetland environmental conditions

The surface area of the pools at the start of the observations in July 2009 were 2680 m2

(Pool V), 779 m2 (Pools I), 759 m

2 (Pool III), 754 m

2 (Pool IV), and 661 m

2 (Pool II), and

all were nearly 1m deep until the pools dried completely in November 2009 (Pool I),

December 2009 (Pool IV), January (Pools II and III) and February 2010 (Pool V).

Table 1 presents averages of the environmental parameters recorded during the study

period. Physico-chemical conditions were highly similar among the pools except dissolved

oxygen concentration which was relatively higher in Pool V. Salinity (1.9 ‰ to 3.2 ‰)

was far lower than that of seawater, indicating that the pools were brackish.

Table 1. Mean values of physico-chemical parameters recorded from the five pools in the

Kakum Estuary Wetland from July 2009 to January 2010 (standard errors in parenthesis)

Parameter Pool I Pool II Pool III Pool IV Pool V

Temperature (oC) 32.6 (4.9) 35.8(5.5) 35.9(6.1) 35.4(4.7) 37.8(6.9)

Salinity(‰) 1.9(1.5) 2.8(1.57) 2.7(1.6) 2.3(1.4) 3.2(1.8)

Conductivity(µScm-1

) 4636(36) 6611(3876) 6827(3809) 5121(3319) 7355(4175)

DO (mg/L) 3.4(0.7) 3.9(0.9) 3.7(0.9) 4.2(0.9) 5.2(0.3)

Turbidity (ppm) 165(77) 163(79) 204(91) 122(28) 225(85)

pH 7.4(1.0) 7.7(0.7) 7.8(0.8) 7.6(0.5) 7.9(0.7)


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3.2 Occurrence of fish species

Sixteen species of finfish belonging to 16 genera and 10 families were found in the pools

(Table 2). Two shellfish species were also found in the pools. Eight species, namely

Hemichromis fasciatus, Sarotherodon melanotheron, Tilapia zillii, Kribia kribensis, Liza

falcipinnis, Aplocheilichthys spilauchen, Macrobrachium macrobrachion and Callinectes

amnicola occurred in all the five pools. Porogobius schlegelii occurred in four pools and

two species Clarias gariepinus and Eleotris senegalensis occurred in three pools. Two of

the pools were inhabited by Elops lacerta, Hepsetus odoe and Odaxothrissa mento while

one of the pools was inhabited by Bathygobius soporator, Periophthalmus barbarus,

Barbus sp. and Dormitator lebretonis.

Table 2. Occurrence of fish species in the Kakum Estuary wetland in pools

Family Species Pool

I II III IV V

CICHLIDAE Hemichromis fasciatus + + + + +

Sarotherodon melanotheron + + + + +

Tilapia zillii + + + + +

CLARIIDAE Clarias gariepinus + + - - +

CLUPEIDAE Odaxothrissa mento - - + - +

CYPRINIDAE Barbus sp. - - + - -

ELEOTRIDAE Kribia kribensis + + + + +

Eleotris senegalensis + + - - +

Dormitator lebretonis - - - + -

ELOPIDAE Elops lacerta - + - - +

GOBIIDAE Porogobius schlegelii + + + - +

Bathygobius soporator - - - + -

Periophthalmus barbarus - - - - +

HEPSETIDAE Hepsetus odoe + - + - -

MUGILIDAE Liza falcipinnis + + + + +

POECILIIDAE Aplocheilichthys spilauchen + + + + +

PALAEMONIDAE Macrobrachium macrobrachion + + + + +

PORTUNIDAE Callinectes amnicola + + + + +

+ indicates present; - indicates absent


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3.3 Fish species composition

Figure 1 shows the percentage composition of the species in each pool. The poecilid fish

Aplocheilichthys spilauchen was dominant in all the pools, with the composition ranging

from 26.21% to 59.23%. T. zillii (Cichlidae), S. melanotheron (Cichlidae) and the

freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium macrobrachion (Palaemonidae) were the second most

abundant species in some of the pools (15.1% to 20.1%).

Figure 1. Percentage composition of fish species in five pools in Kakum Estuary wetland

(+ indicates < 0.5 % composition)


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3.4 Species diversity and similarity of fish communities

Values of the diversity and equitability indices for the fish communities are presented in

Table 3. The diversity index (H') ranged from 2.2 to 2.7, and the equitability index from

0.6 to 0.7. These results indicate little difference in the species diversity of the fish

communities. Species richness was highest in Pool V (15 species) and lowest in Pool IV (9

species).

Sorensen’s similarity (Cs) values ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 (Table 4) suggesting a generally

high similarity among the fish communities in the pools.

Table 3. Species richness and diversity indices for fish communities in the five wetland

pools

Pool No. of species H' J'

Pool I 12 2.5 0.6

Pool II 12 2.5 0.7

Pool III 12 2.5 0.7

Pool IV 9 2.2 0.6

Pool V 15 2.7 0.7

H'= Shannon-Wiener index; J'=Equitability index

Table 4. Sorensen’s similarity index for the pairs of fish communities

3.5 Fish size range

Table 5 gives the size range and modal sizes of the fish caught in the wetland. A.

spilauchen ranged from 2.4 cm to 5.1 cm TL, with a modal class of 3.0-3.9 cm while S.

melanotheron ranged from 1.4 cm to 10.5 cm TL with individuals measuring 2.0-2.9 cm

forming the mode (76.3%). The shrimp M. macrobrachion measured 2.2 cm – 9.4 cm BL

with 63.9% of the individuals measuring 4.0-4.9 cm. Some marine fishes found such as

the E. lacerta had a range of 3.8 cm – 8.8 cm TL with 6.0-6.9 cm being the modal length.

The mullet L. falcipinnis measured 6.2 cm – 13.6 cm with modal length of 7.0-7.9 cm

(63.3%) while the swimming crab C. amnicola ranged from 1.0 cm to 7.2 cm carapace

width, with individuals measuring 1.0-1.9 cm CW dominating the population (73.2%).

Pool I Pool II Pool III Pool IV Pool V

Pool I

Pool II 0.917

Pool III 0.833 0.750

Pool IV 0.762 0.762 0.762

Pool V 0.815 0.889 0.741 0.667


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Table 5. Size range of fish species sampled (all pools) from the Kakum Estuary wetland

3.6 Food spectrum

The food items consumed by a particular fish species in the five pools did not vary

significantly, hence the samples were combined to determine the frequency of occurrence

and composition of food items in the stomachs (Figure 2).

Aplocheilichthys spilauchen

This species fed mainly on insects (97.0% occurrence, 33.1% composition), chironomid

larvae (40.0% occurrence, composition of 12.1%), other unidentified insect larvae (78.0%

occurrence, 30.4% composition) and debris (89.0% occurrence, 20.1% composition).

Copepods were lowly consumed.

Sarotherodon melanotheron

Diatoms (e.g. Navicula, Rhizosolenia, Gyrosigma and Stephanodiscus) were encountered

in all stomachs containing food with a composition of 50.8%, followed by debris (64.8%

and 26.1% by occurrence and composition respectively). Green algae (eg. Pediastrum,

Staurastrum and Closterium ) and blue – green algae (Anabaena, Oscillatoria,

Chroococcus and Microcystis) had frequencies of occurrence as 31.0% and 14.0%

No.

TL(cm)

Species Min Max Modal class Composition

Finfish

Hemichromis fasciatus (FW) 41 3.5 12 3.0-3.9 62.4 %

Sarotherodon melanotheron (BW) 328 1.4 10.5 2.0-2.9 76.3%

Tilapia zillii (FW) 121 1.4 6.9 2.0-2.9 69.6%

Clarias gariepinus (FW) 7 10.4 24.1 - -

Odaxothrissa mento (FW) 7 8 16.6 - -

Barbus sp.(FW) 31 3.1 4.7 3.0-3.9 43.2%

Kribia kribensis (FW) 88 3.6 6.2 5.0-5.9 68.4%

Eleotris senegalensis (FW/BW) 6 3.4 6.3 - -

Dormitator lebretonis (FW/BW) 1 - - - -

Elops lacerta (M) 22 3.8 8.8 6.0-6.9 60.2%

Hepsetus odoe (FW) 2 - 19.5 - -

Liza falcipinnis (M/BW) 39 6.2 13.6 7.0-7.9 63.3%

Aplocheilichthys spilauchen (FW) 784 2.4 5.1 3.0-3.9 32.1%

Porogobius schlegelii (FW/BW) 47 4.1 8.1 5.0-3.9 42.3%

Bathygobius soporator (M/BW) 1 - - - -

Periophthalmus barbarus (BW) 1 - - - -

Shellfish

Callinectes amnicola (M/BW) 60 1.0* 7.2* 1.0-1.9* 73.2%

Macrobrachium macrobrachion (FW) 224 2.2 9.4 4.0-4.9 63.9%

FW, freshwater; BW, brackishwater; M, marine; (*) Carapace width


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respectively, and compositions of 8.4% and 5.8% respectively. Zooplankton, zoobenthos

and other food items varied between 1% and 5% in occurrence and composition.

Tilapia zillii

Plant material (98.0% by occurrence) and algae (100% by occurrence) were the most

frequently ingested food of T. zillii, constituting 51.5% and 34.1% respectively of the

consumed food. This was followed by debris with occurrence of 53.4% and composition

of 10.6% while copepods and rotifers were ingested by 6.65% and 9.95% of the specimens

respectively, and made up 1.61% and 2.21% respectively of the consumed food.

Liza falcipinnis

Similarly, the most important food eaten by L. falcipinnis were diatoms (100% by

occurrence, 41.6% by composition) and debris (80.0% occurrence, 30.3% composition).

Blue-green algae, green algae and copepods had occurrence of 26.6%, 46.7% and 40%

respectively, and compositions of 8.3%, 4.7% and 7.1% respectively. Few individuals

preyed on rotifers and other zooplankton (<20% frequency) and their composition was less

than 5% of the stomach contents.

Hemichromis fasciatus

Among the items eaten by H. fasciatus, insect fragments (75.6% by occurrence) and fish

fry (95.1% by occurrence) were found to constitute the most common preys, with

compositions of 28.97% and 30.84% respectively. Insect larvae (principally chironomid

larvae) were found in the stomachs of 68.2% of the specimens and composed 17.2% of the

food while shrimps were ingested by 58% of the fish and made up 12.6% of the prey

ingested. Fish scales, copepods, algae (e.g. diatoms, green and blue-green algae) and

debris occurred in < 10% of the stomachs and they composed 4% of the food consumed.

Porogobius schlegelii

All the specimens of P. schlegelii also fed mainly on copepods. Copepods were the most

ingested prey which formed almost 48% of the stomach contents. Debris (34%) and

oligochaetes (16%) also constituted a very important component of the food while fish

scales were encountered in less than 5% of the specimens and made up 2% of the total

consumed food.

Kribia kribensis

The K. kribensis specimens had debris, chironomid larvae, copepods and annelids

(oligochaetes) in their stomachs, with copepods being the most common prey with a

composition of 33.5% of the food. Chironomid larvae were the next most consumed prey

with a composition of 27.2% while oligochaetes (annelid) comprised 22.6% of the

ingested food. About 16.7% of the stomach content was debris.


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Figure 2. Percentage occurrence and composition of food items in the diet of seven fish

species in the Kakum Estuary wetland

Other species

Debris or detritus represented 60 % by composition and chironomid larvae 40% by

composition of the food consumed by other fish species. These were found to be the only

food items consumed by all the 31 specimens of Barbus sp. The one specimen each of the

gobies P. barbarus and Bathygobius soporator as well as Dormitator lebretonis fed on

detritus, chironomid larvae and copepods. All six Eleotris senegalensis examined took

chironomid larvae, copepods, debris and oligochaetes which made up 36.4 %, 28.2%, 21.3%

and 14.1% of the food content respectively. Fragments of adult insects and juvenile

shrimps were the only components of the food of all 7 individuals of Odaxothrissa mento


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in the wetland, each food item constituting about 50% of the diet. Elops lacerta (23

specimens) preyed exclusively on juvenile shrimps and fish fry (each made up 50% of the

diet), and the 2 specimens of Hepsetus odoe found had ingested only fish. Seven

specimens of the catfish Clarias gariepinus were found to have consumed fishes,

chironomid larvae, plant materials, algae and debris.

4. Discussion

4.1 Composition, diversity and size distribution of the fish communities

Salinity has been recognised as a key factor influencing the occurrence and composition of

species in brackishwater habitats in the tropics and subtropics (Little et al., 1988). This is

because species differ in salinity tolerance. Although the pools in the Kakum estuary

wetland were brackish (mean salinity varied between 1.9 ‰ and 3.2 ‰), salinity could not

be linked with the presence or absence of any of the species in the pools. This is

presumably due to the fact that salinity did not differ markedly among the pools.

The relatively larger size of Pool V, coupled with its higher oxygen content seemed to be

the major factor that accounted for its correspondingly higher fish species diversity.

Furthermore, the closeness of the diversity indices is reflected in the communities being

very similar and this is buttressed by the high similarity index values (Cs> 0.6). This

finding could also be as a result of the prevailing highly similar environmental conditions.

The 18 species belonging to 12 families recorded in the wetland is lower than that of the

nearby Kakum River Estuary where Blay (1997) found 28 species belonging to 14 families.

Apparently, due to its permanent connection to the sea, more species enter the estuary than

the adjacent wetland where most fishes enter only during the wet season when it is flooded

by the Kakum River.

A. spilauchen, S. melanotheron and M. macrobrachion were dominant and together made

up over 73 % of the community in each pool. This community structure is similar to

reports by some researchers which indicate dominance of a few species in the total fish

biomass of brackishwater habitats (Quinn, 1980; Little et al., 1988; Green et al., 2009).

Coastal wetlands serve as important breeding and nursery grounds for many commercially

important fishes. Reports on the structure of fish communities of salt marshes along the

Essex coastline (UK) (Green et al., 2009) and a salt marsh intertidal creek in the Yangtze

River Estuary (China) (Jin et al., 2007) showed that juveniles of commercially important

species dominated the catches from the marshes. These workers therefore underscored the

importance of salt marshes as nursery habitats and the need for conservation of such

habitats.

Results of the present study have similarly shown the Kakum estuarine wetland serves

important but different purposes for different fish groups at different life stages. The black-

chinned tilapia S. melanotheron which is the mainstay of the fishery of many West African

lagoons and an abundant fish in the wetland had a modal size of 2.0-2.9 cm TL (76.3%),

which is far smaller than the 4.6 cm SL (= 5.5 cm TL) estimated as the maturity length

(Lm50) for the population in the adjacent Kakum River Estuary (Blay, 1998). Similarly, the


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shrimp M. macrobrachion which was also common in the wetland, and constituted an

important food resource exploited by the local communities had 63% of the samples

comprising smaller individuals (modal size 4.0-4.9 cm BL), with most of the few adults

encountered being gravid females. Besides these commonly encountered fishes, juveniles

of marine fishes including L. falcipinnis, E. lacerta, P. schlegelii, B. soporator and the

crab C. amnicola which had earlier been reported in the Estuary (Blay, 1997) were also

encountered in the wetland. These findings indicate that the wetland is utilized as a

feeding ground by juvenile marine fishes while freshwater species use the wetlands for

breeding as well as nursery and feeding grounds.

4.2 Food habits and trophic relationships

The main constituents of the diet of A. spilauchen in the pools were debris, insect larvae

and adult insects, with copepods representing a very small proportion of the food, as also

reported by Dankwa et al. (1999). The food of S. melanotheron in the wetland did not

differ markedly from that of populations in the Sakumo Lagoon in Ghana (Ofori-Danson

& Kumi, 2006) and Eleiyele reservoir (Ayoade & Ikulala, 2007) and Awba Reservoir

(Ugwumba & Adebisi, 1992) in Nigeria, except that these populations fed on a wider

range of algae and zooplankton. Similarly, the grey mullet L. falcipinnis occurring in the

wetland fed on similar items taken by mullets in Benya lagoon in Ghana (Blay, 1995), and

River Pra and River Volta estuaries also in Ghana (Dankwa et al., 2005). However, the

lagoon and estuarine populations ingested a broader spectrum of food items including red

algae, molluscan larvae, polychaetes and nematodes which were absent in the diet of the

present population. Therefore the relatively narrow spectrum of food eaten by the fish

encountered in the present study suggests the unavailability of a number of their dietary

items in the wetland.

T. zillii fed mainly on plant materials and debris, confirming their macrophagous food

habits (Dankwa et al., 1999) while H. fasciatus preyed on variety of items, from larvae

and adult of insects to shrimps and fish fry, which confirms their minor-piscivorous

feeding habit (Dankwa et al., 1999). Comparatively, the food consumed by the populations

of H. fasciatus in Tarkwa bay and the Lagos lagoon in Nigeria (Ugwumba, 1988)

consisted principally of fish. The differences in the variety of prey consumed by the

wetland population and those in Nigeria could be related to the availability, abundance and

diversity of potential prey in their respective environments.

Fishes of the family Eleotridae and Gobiidae are generally known to be carnivores

(Dankwa et al., 1999) and this predatory habit manifested in their diet in the wetland.

Although K. kribensis and P. schlegelii exploited similar food resource (copepods,

oligochaetes and debris), the former additionally consumed chironomid larvae to a

considerable extent (27% composition) while the latter ingested fish scales (2%). This

could suggest a trophic divergence or habitat segregation among the species to reduce or

avoid interspecific competition. Unlike the four species of eleotrids in freshwater streams

of the Caribbean coast (Costa Rica) which had diets dominated by shrimps and fishes

(Winemiller & Ponwith, 1998), those in Kakum did not consume such items despite their

abundance in the pools, which indicates that though eleotrids are generally predatory, prey


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items may vary for different species.

Blay (1996) found eleven items in the food of the P. schlegelii population in the Fosu

lagoon (Ghana) and these included detritus, fish scales, copepods, algae, rotifers, fish fry,

insect larvae and some plant materials. In the present study, only the first three items,

together with oligochaetes were eaten by the Kakum wetland population while other

predatory fishes fed on the other items. Considering that several macrophagous species

occurred in the wetland pools compared to the lagoon where P. schlegelii is the only

macrobenthophagous fish present (Blay & Asabre–Ameyaw, 1993), it is conceivable that

the consumption of such a narrow range of prey could be a resource partitioning

mechanism to reduce competition.

O. mento fed on adult insects and juvenile shrimps while E. lacerta preyed on juvenile

shrimps and fish fry indicating that both are carnivorous. The cyprinid Barbus sp. ingested

debris and chironomid larvae suggesting that the species is detritivorous. Unfortunately,

the dearth of information on the food habits of these three species constrains a comparison

of their dietary items and food spectrum with populations elsewhere. Nevertheless, this

study could serve as a reference point for future studies on the food habits of these fish

species in Ghana and other West African countries.

4.3 Conclusion

In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that the Kakum estuary wetland

supports diverse freshwater, brackish and marine fish species which can be grouped into

the various trophic guilds given by Esteves et al. (2008) and Green et al. (2009) namely

microherbivore-detritivores (Sarotheodon melanotheron, Tilapia zillii and Liza falcipinnis),

invertivore-detritivores (Barbus sp., Kribia kribensis, Eleotris senegalensis, Dormitator

lebretonis, Porogobius schlegelii, Bathygobius soporator and Periophthalmus barbarus),

insectivore (Aplocheilichthys spilauchen) minor – piscivores (Hemichromis fasciatus,

Odaxothrissa mento and Elops lacerta), piscivore (Hepsetus odoe) and omnivore (Clarias

gariepinus). Most of these fishes were represented by small individuals indicating that the

wetland is an important nursery and feeding ground for the fishes, some of which are

commercially important in the Ghanaian fishery. It is therefore recommended that fishing

be restricted in the wetland prior to separation of the pools from the main river channel

during the wet season in order to avoid exploitation of the juvenile fishes. It is also

advisable that the country’s fisheries policy and National Wetlands Conservation Strategy

should consider this recommendation for implementation in cooperation with the local

authorities in a co-management effort.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the School

of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana for providing a vehicle, field and

laboratory equipment as well as laboratory space for this research. We also wish to express

our gratitude to the chief technician Mr. Peter Aubyn as well as the field assistants Mr.

John Eshun and Mr. Benjamin Owusu of School of Biological Sciences, UCC for their

tireless efforts throughout the study.


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